A powerful storm moved across southern Albania on Wednesday, killing two people and causing widespread damage after earlier battering North Macedonia with hurricane-force winds.
The hardest-hit areas included Sarandë and nearby coastal towns, where strong winds uprooted trees, crushed parked vehicles and blocked roads. Residents also reported significant damage to public and private property.
Authorities said the storm was brief but accompanied by exceptionally strong wind gusts.
The first victim was a 61-year-old fisherman whose body was recovered from the sea near Ksamil. Officials believe rough seas and strong winds may have contributed to the incident, although the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
The second victim was a 54-year-old electricity worker who died while repairing power lines damaged by the storm in the Himara region. Initial reports indicate the fatal accident occurred during efforts to restore electricity following weather-related outages.
The storm struck just two days after North Macedonia experienced severe weather with wind speeds reaching up to 134 km/h, leaving behind damaged buildings, uprooted trees, destroyed vehicles and widespread disruption.
Despite the damage, local authorities said conditions in Ksamil have quickly returned to normal and beaches have reopened to visitors. Officials, however, urged residents and tourists to remain cautious, warning that summer storms can develop rapidly and produce dangerous winds and hazardous sea conditions.